GREENWICH, P.E.I.
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Even regular visitors to Prince Edward Island might not know about one of its hidden treasures. A visit to the Greenwich section of the P.E.I. National Park offers a chance to explore boardwalks, beaches and spectacular scenery.
To get to the park, head to St. Peters in Kings County 鈥� about 45 minutes from Charlottetown 鈥� and drive around the scenic St. Peters Bay. Once you鈥檙e at the park, it鈥檚 worth a stop at the interpretation centre 鈥� a modern building with lots of displays and information.
Janette Gallant, visitor services co-ordinator for the park, said Greenwich is the newest part of the P.E.I. National Park system, opening in 1998.
The area was designated for both cultural and natural reasons, she said, but primarily for its 鈥減arabolic鈥漝unes system which is relatively rare in North America.
鈥淚t is a huge dune system that moves with the weather, which can be over a long period of time or a short period of time.鈥�
The area is also archeologically rich, she said, dating back about 10,000 years to when it was inhabited by ancestors of the Mi鈥檏maq people.
鈥淲e have found quite a lot of their artifacts,鈥� she said, adding it was also the site of an Acadian settlement in the 1700s.
From there, you can drive a short distance to Greenwich Beach.
Here you鈥檒l find pristine sand that stretches out as far as the eye can see in each direction.
鈥淭here鈥檚 gorgeous, clear water, a nice sandy bottom, and the beach goes on for miles and miles,鈥� said Mike Matyjiw of Toronto, who was visiting the beach for the first time.
He was with Pat Larson who described the beach as 鈥渁 hidden treasure.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 great to make a day of it by eating at Rick鈥檚 Fish and Chips in St. Peters and then coming to the beach,鈥� she said.
Laurie MacDonald of Cornwall, P.E.I., said she had also just discovered Greenwich for the first time.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no high tourism here. It鈥檚 safe for children with the sandbars. They can go out as far as you can see,鈥� she said.
MacDonald said in years past she had been taking visitors to the more crowded beaches in Cavendish and Brackley, but that鈥檚 going to change.
鈥淣ext year this is where we鈥檒l be coming for sure. What a way to spend a day,鈥� she said.
At the other end of the park you鈥檒l discover a system of three trails to hike or bike.
鈥淭he Greenwich Dunes trail is our iconic trail. About five years ago it was named the No. 1 destination trail in Atlantic sa国际传媒,鈥� said Gallant.
鈥淚t is an absolutely stunning trail. It starts out by St. Peter鈥檚 Bay and then comes through woodland. You emerge out upon Bowley Pond and go across a floating boardwalk there. You then go over a dune and when you look backward you see that spectacular parabolic dunes system.鈥�
The trails are worth the hike, but you need to be prepared with comfortable sneakers and a bottle or two of water.
The Greenwich Dunes trail is considered a moderate trail, but is 4.4 kilometres return.
However, at the end of the trail is another spectacular beach, and this one even more of a hidden treasure.
鈥淚t鈥檚 well worth the trek,鈥� said Kathy MacNeil of Victoria, who added she considers that beach her favourite of any in the world.
She and her daughter Laura were making the trip to the beach, each sporting backpacks with water, snacks, and beach chairs.
鈥淲e always make it part of our tradition to come here at least once a year to Greenwich to make the walk because it鈥檚 great exercise. It鈥檚 beautiful over the salt marsh and they鈥檝e done a beautiful job redoing the boardwalk. We couldn鈥檛 go back out West without saying we鈥檝e done this day,鈥� MacNeil said.
Lisa Chapman of Pontypool, Ont., said she found the beach to be as pretty as a postcard.
鈥淚 was in a boutique in Charlottetown and they were selling postcards and one was of Greenwich. I asked the lady and she told me it was Greenwich and said I had to go. So, we made a special trip out here today. This is stunning,鈥� she said.
Gallant said while she didn鈥檛 have any exact numbers, visitation to Greenwich was up in 2017 with more people exploring the country as part of the sa国际传媒 150 celebrations.
鈥淚t has been sort of a secret getaway for many people but we feel this year, the secret has gotten out. People are realizing just how beautiful it is,鈥� she said.
